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New diving role for Plymouth Olympian Barrow

PLYMOUTH Olympian Sarah Barrow is to head a new project helping to develop diving in the West Midlands ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Barrow has been appointed as a Swim England diving development officer after previously working as a diving programme manager and senior coach in Ireland.

The West Midlands region is not renowned for diving, but Swim England hope to change that with the arrival of a new pool ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Barrow, who has won European, Commonwealth and World Series medals and competed at two Olympic Games, said: “This gives us an opportunity to start developing the sport in the area in the run up to the Commonwealth Games.

“When there is a major competition such as this, we get a lot of people asking ‘where can I go diving’? We want to get ahead of the game and be prepared for the spike in interest we are going to get.

“What I enjoy is getting youngsters involved in the sport, especially in an area where they do not know much about it.

“It’s a great opportunity to develop grassroots diving across the West Midlands and we’ll be looking to maximise the potential of the purpose-built facility at Sandwell for the Commonwealth Games.”

Barrow’s role will involve visiting local schools and community groups to hopefully inspire a new generation of divers.